It’s now not the cash. In keeping with Andre Russell, premier West Indian cricketers are “just not interested in playing Tests.”
Despite the fact that witnesses say this is because of the deficit of cash in West Indian cricket, Russell disagrees. “I don’t think it’s the money, I don’t think money is the issue,” he advised Press Affiliation not too long ago. “Based on the amount of T20 and leagues around the world, I think a lot of players are just not interested in playing Tests.”
Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Pooran, Rovman Powell and Kieron Pollard have been a number of the West Indians enjoying in The Hundred when the latter Take a look at towards England used to be being performed in past due July. A few of the highest-paid gamers within the league, they’re nonetheless enjoying The Hundred year the Take a look at form towards South Africa is on. Pollard, Powell and Pooran have by no means performed Take a look at cricket. Russell performed one, in 2010. Hetmyer has performed 16, the latter of them in 2019.
“Red-ball cricket is not my cookie, I don’t think my body will keep up with Test cricket”
“I’m always excited watching the other West Indian batters, especially when they’re hitting boundary after boundary,” Russell mentioned. “As long as you can do well from contracts outside your nation I think they are going to grab that opportunity but everyone wants to play on the big stage.
“So, if the bulky degree is available in Take a look at cricket, I do know kids will likely be glad to play games. I simply don’t assume it’s about cash or anything else like that.”
Russell, now 36, has managed to stay at the top of his game in short-format cricket despite a succession of injuries over the years, especially in the legs. A knee injury forced him out of the 2019 ODI World Cup after a few games. Test cricket, he said, was not on the table for him.
“Crimson-ball cricket isn’t my cookie, I don’t assume my frame will stock up with Take a look at cricket,” he said. “However the ones within the staff on the week are have compatibility plenty and taking at the problem. That they had a couple of moments within the Take a look at form [against England] the place they may have became issues round. Taking part in England at house is all the time moving to be crispy for the West Indies.”
